Crutch



June 19, 1923.

6. HIPWOOD GRUTGH;

inal Filed Ma r ch 11, 1919 Patented June 19, 1923.

UNITEUSTATES GEORGE HIPWOOD, OF NEW YORK, N. Y.

CRUTCH.

Application filed March 11, 1919, Serial n esinii. Renewed November 15, 1922. S e ria1 N0.601,16 7.

To all whom it may concem;

Be it known that I, GEORGE H rwoon, a citizen of the United States, residing at'New York, county of New York, State of New York, have invented an Improvement in Crutches, of which the following description, in connection with the accompanying drawing,is a specification, like characters on the drawing representing like parts.

This invention relates to crutches and particularly to the handle therefor. The ob jects of the invention are to provide an improved crutch handle which can be readily applied to any ordinary crutch; which is constructed so that it can be adjusted. up and down on the crutch thereby to be placed in the position most convenient for the user, and which is constructed so that the handle portion which is grasped in the hand of the user is situated at one side of the crutch body so that it is not necessary for the user to turn the hand inwardly toward the body in using the crutch, and otherwise to improve crutch handles, all as will be more fully hereinafter set forth.

In order to give an understanding of my invention, I have illustrated in the drawings a selected embodiment thereof which will now be described, after which the novel features will be pointed out in the appended claims.

In the drawings, Fig. 1 is a perspective View of a portion of a crutch body showing my improved handle applied thereto;

Fig. 2 is a horizontal section through the handle and crutch body;

Fig. 3 is a sectional view taken in a vertical plane between the two plates comprising one bracket;

Fig. 4 is a perspective view of a crutch having my improved handle applied thereto.

My improved handle is especially designed to be used in connection with the type of crutch shown in Fig. 4 which comprises the two side members 1 on which the arm rest 2 is supported. My improved handle comprises two handle-supporting brackets, each adapted to be adjustably clamped to one of the side members 1, and a handle portion sustained by said brackets. The two brackets are indicated at 3 and 1, respectively, and

the handle portion is indicated generally at 5. Each bracket comprises two plates 6 and 7, each plate having a groove or recess 8 extending transversely thereof which is adapted to receive one of the side members 1 of the crutch body. Theserecessed pon tions 8 .will be; of a shape to fit the side 1 member. 1, and means are provided for clamping the two plates ofeach bracket to.- igether thereby clamping them firmly tO-the v side. members 1. The means herein shown. for this purpose comprises two clamping screws 9 and 10, the clamping screw L10 ex tending through the two plates on the outer side of the; crutch body and the clamping screw 9 extending through ears or projections 11 formed on theplates at the inner side of said crutch body. When these clamping screws 9 and 10 are tightened, the

two plates of each bracket will be firmly clamped to the side member 1.' The handle portion 5 is shown as sustained on a rod 12 which in turn issecured to the outer ends of the two brackets 3 and at. This rod extends through both brackets and through the handle 5 and is provided with a nut 13 on one end by which the handle is firmly clamped between the brackets.

By means of this construction the handle can be adjusted vertically of the crutch, forif the clamping screws 9 and 10 are l0osened, each bracket will be sufiiciently' free from the crutch body so that it can be moved up or down as desired, and when it is in the proper position,.the tightening of the screws 9, and 10 will firmly clamp it in place. I I

may if desired interpose one or more spring members 14 between each pair of plates 6 and 7 ,said springmembers tending to press the plates apart slightly. The advantage of these spring members is that when the clamping screws are loosened, they will operate automatically to separate the plates so that they can be readily adjusted on the crutch body. 1 Y

The plates 6 and 7 are preferably spaced slightly from each other sufficiently to receive the spring members 1 1, and theedges of the plates are bent inwardly to form flanges 15, the flanges on two plates meeting each other and forming a closed edge. My improved handle has the advantage that it can be applied to any crutch body and may be placed in the position most convenient for the user of the crutch. Further, since the handle portion 5 is supported at the outer ends of the brackets, said handle will be in position where the user can grasp it without the necessity of bending his wrist inwardly to bring the hand in the plane of the crutch body.

to each side member, each bracket comprising a pair of plateswhlch are w der atjone' end than at the other, each plate having a groove at itswvider end to *receive a side member of thevcrutch and having aperipheral stiffening flange at the 'o ther end, the

{flanges ofthe plates of each-pairfhavingan abutting relation, chmipin-g screws for clamping together 'the plates of each palr, the screws-ion each bracket being situated cncpposite sidesof the side member 'ofthe crutch, a handle'member interposed between the brackets at the narrow :ends thereo'f, and

gprising two plates, each having a portion formed to embrace a side member of a A crutch, clamping screws for clamping: the

plates to said side member, a handle secured to said brackets, and spring elements situated-betweenthe plates of each bracket and -'tend-ing'r-to separate them- "as the clamping screws are loosened. 1' I In testimony whereof, -I have signed my name-tothis specification. 

